School buses, playgrounds, hallways and classrooms will once again be bustling with activity as students across the province return from spring break.

Students under the Rocky View Schools Division as well as the Calgary Catholic School District have had the last 10 days off and the welcomed break from classes and homework came at an opportune time as schools right across the province were seeing a climb in active COVID-19 cases.

This year Albertans were strongly advised to stay close to home during the spring break and health officials urged Albertans to follow the strict health measures put in place to help curb our rising numbers.

As local students reunite with their peers today, Cochrane is reporting its highest active case count to date. Over the weekend Cochrane added 27 active cases to climb to a total of 140, and Rocky View County currently accounts for 207 active cases.

Five Cochrane schools are currently listed on the Alberta Health Services School Status Map.

Bow Valley High and Cochrane High are both listed under an 'Outbreak  Status' reporting 10 plus cases of the virus, and Glenbow Elementary, St. Timothy and the Cochrane Christian Academy are all listed under 'Alert Status' reporting between two and four active cases.

In the broader Springbank area, Springbank Community High School, and the Edge School are listed under ‘Outbreak Status’ reporting ten plus cases and Springbank Middle School is also listed under 'Outbreak Status' reporting between five and nine cases.

The province has extended rapid testing to include eight school divisions. At this time Rocky View Schools hasn’t been included, however the province says they will continue to evaluate and add schools if necessary.